Thursday, January 14, 2010

This was originally posted back in June 09 as part of a series of letters we had sent Ex SecState Karen Handel about Ballot Access here in Georgia. We thought we'd put it up again to prep the ground for our first letter to SecState Kemp on the same topic.

The ballot access battle continues. Not satisfied with the lack of response to our first missive to Secretary of State Karen Handel, we reached into the piggy bank and invested in certified postage once again to send a second letter on the same topic. And guess what? We heard back from none other than Director of Elections Wesley Tailor. And we expect an email shortly that should explain to us just what the Sec State can or cannot do. We're on pins and needles!

Please keep in mind that we do not expect the Sec State to wave a magic wand and actually do anything to address the ballot access issue. Hell, she's got her hands full right now trying to pimp the voter ID issue to the republican faithful since her poll numbers put her at the bottom of the heap and the much anticipated funding report is due out real soon and if her funding numbers look weak, that bastard Oxendine will eat her lunch. Not to mention the fact that Nathan Deal and his out of state, entrenched , old line republican money is gonna bury both of 'em. So what's a poor girl to do? Spend time and attention on those wacky Libertarians or get out there and schmoose donors?

We're guessing it's major schmoose time at Handel HQ.

Which is really kinda funny as there is only one group of liberty lovin', small goverment wantin' lower tax needin', loosely organized voters out there that migh be inclined to play in the republican primary if one of the candidates in that primary actually said something they wanted to hear. 127,000 Georgians played in the US Senate race in 2008. 127,000 Georgians said no to continued corruption and never ending pork barrel spending. If half of them decided to play in the republican primary, those 60,000 plus votes would have a big impact. They might even pick the person who gets to run against King Roy and the redoubtable John Monds. You'd think somebody working in the brain trust over at Handel HQ would've spun that scenario.

Anyway,

First, here's a copy of our second letter

Secretary Of State Karen Handel June 27th 2009

214 State Capitol

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Via : Certified Mail

Subject : Electronic Petitioning

Third Request

Dear Secretary Handel,

May I remind you that, ’justice delayed is justice denied” It seems as though our first attempt to communicate our wishes for your office to immediately implement a system by which by which Libertarian candidates could fulfill the petitioning requirement was ignored. Perhaps your campaign staff did not effectively communicate our sense of urgency or the extreme importance that the “concerned parties” place on this matter.

Our second attempt (via certified mail) has met with the same results, though I did receive one phone message from Mr. Wes Taylor from your office, my four return phone calls over the course of a week netted zero response.

The citizens of the State of Georgia deserve the opportunity to vote for candidates that advocate low taxes, small government, fiscal responsibility, personal liberty, and an undying respect for the United States Constitution.

Libertarian candidates are the only candidates that trumpet these principles.

Your partisan foot dragging on this matter is unacceptable, the citizens of this state are not your serfs. Again, if one can file their taxes online, secure automobile registration online, and conduct a slew of other “government business” online surely one should be able to sign a petition online to allow a third party candidate ballot access.

I, Christopher Barber as a potential candidate, along with Mr. Shane Bruce, Mr. Allen Buckley and all other potential Libertarian Party members who may wish to run for office as a Georgia House Representative, Georgia State Senator, or US Congressional Representative request the following: your office immediately implement a system by which the petitioning requirement can be accomplished electronically.

It should be noted Secretary Handel, that your own campaign website prominently displays a request to sign your petition to send a message to the Obama Administration, it is obvious that you believe this technology has merit and can be used as a bellwether of public support for an issue or candidate. Why are the citizens of Georgia denied the use of this same technology to select potential candidates for office? Have we finally reached that fabled Orwellian plateau where some are more equal than others?

Was the intent of the legislature back in 1943 to use the petitioning requirement as a roadblock to ballot access for political parties other that white Democrats, or was it intended to gage potential political support? You tell me.

Libertarians are engaged politically not to enrich themselves at the public trough or waste taxpayer money on things like midnight basketball leagues or fishing initiatives. But rather, we are engaged to champion very the principals and values of our founding fathers.

Your campaign slogan is “bring it on” so here it is; I need to hear back from your office within one week as to what your intent is. Can you affect the change we seek? If not, why not? Georgia Code, Title 21, Chapter 2, Article 4, Part 3, 21-1-170 (a) specifically states “Such petition shall be in the form prescribed by the officers with whom they are filed,” Continued failure to communicate will be taken as a no and we will then pursue other methods of redress. Be advised that our resolve on this issue is steadfast and unyielding.

Christopher Barber

1388 Conway Road

Decatur, Ga. 30030

404.373.2178

cc. perdue s.

wheatley t.

oxendine j.

deal n.

Next, here's a copy of the first letter that appeared over at Fresh Loaf and has since percolated around the internet, showing up at the NY Post of all places.

Libertarian asks Handel to ease third-party ballot access

June 8, 2009 at 11:19 am by Thomas Wheatley in News

Christopher Barber, who wants ballot access eased, said we could use this awesome photo of him and one of God's most poetic creatures

For decades, most third-party candidates in Georgia who wanted to gain ballot access have had to circulate petitions and gather signatures. The process has been derided as unfair, unnecessary and an obstacle to public service.

And now, a Libertarian Party of Georgia member has asked Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel — who’s also a gubernatorial candidate — to ease third-party ballot access in the Peach State.

In a letter sent last Friday to the Secretary of State’s office, DeKalb County resident Christopher Barber — who’s allowed me to reveal his identity as the mysterious “man in the Hawaiian shirt” from previous posts — asks Handel to embrace the Internet and TEAR DOWN THIS WALL.

Judging that Handel has been gung-ho on cutting her department’s waste and keeping elections fair — and considering the allure of winning the kind graces of the burgeoning number of residents who identify with the Libertarian platform — this should make for some interesting theater.

More from the letter — and a copy of the letter itself — after the jump.

Barber writes:

It should be noted that if one can file their taxes online, secure automobile registration online, and conduct a slew of other “official state business online” surely one should be able to sign a petition online. I know that under your guidance the Secretary of State’s office has embraced technology, I am sure that you will agree that this is a “reasonable” and “prudent” request.

Barber writes he’s been told Handel could fulfill the request without input by the Georgia General Assembly. Local Libertarian blogger Jason Pye, who’s written extensively on the subject, says any easing of ballot access restrictions would have to be approved by the Legislature. But that doesn’t stop the Secretary of State from endorsing such a move, he says.

Full text of Barber’s letter to Handel — I’m cc’ed next to Gov. Sonny Perdue, which I’m sure will never happen again in my lifetime — is pasted below. (Handel’s name is misspelled in the letter. We doubt she’ll hold a grudge.)

Secretary Of State Karen Handle214 State CapitolAtlanta, Georgia 30334

VIA: Certified MailSubject: Electronic Petitioning

Dear Secretary Handle,

As you know the Libertarian Party of Georgia has suffered for 37 years under some of the most horrendous ballot access laws in the country, the original legislation drafted in 1943 was born in that hate filled period commonly referred to as “Jim Crow”, which sought to deny people of color and others a voice in Georgia.

I, Christopher Barber as a potential candidate, along with Mr. Shane Bruce, Mr. Allen Buckley and all other Georgia Libertarian Party Members who may wish to run for office as a Georgia House Representative, Georgia State Senator or US Congressional Representative request the following: your office immediately implement a system by which the petitioning requirement can be accomplished electronically (via e-mail)

I am sure that you would agree that this application of technology would save your department, and the Georgia taxpayers a tremendous amount of money. After careful review of the statues I and other knowledgeable parties believe that this would be an “administrative decision” and not require any legislative input.

It should be noted that if one can file their taxes online, secure automobile registration online, and conduct a slew of other “official state business online” surely one should be able to sign a petition online. I know that under your guidance the Secretary of State’s office has embraced technology, I am sure that you will agree that this is a “reasonable” and “prudent” request.

Last November 4th over one million Georgia voters chose the “Libertarian” brand in the Public Service Commission Race, and even with the 60th US Senate seat up for grabs, the faithful still voted Libertarian. Our resolve on this request is steadfast, because we believe the voters of Georgia deserve an opportunity to vote for a candidate who echoes the very values of our “founding fathers” those being; small government, low taxes, fiscal responsibility, personal liberty, and an undying respect for the United States Constitution.

In closing, I would ask you to consider this; the obvious intent of those Georgia Legislators some 66 years ago was to deny ballot access and political competition by setting up “roadblocks” with an extreme petitioning requirement. I would hope you would agree that this was, and is wrong. If the intent was that the petitioning requirement would be used as a bellwether of potential political support for a candidate or party, then surely this could be accomplished electronically.

Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from your office.

Best Regards

Christopher Barber[address, phone number redacted]

cc. perdue s.wheatley t.

And next a copy of the email from the Sec States office, if it ever shows up.

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More to follow from your friendly nieghborhood Libertarian Community Organizer!